Investigators going after contraband smuggling syndicate

       PUTRAJAYA: Two Lamborghinis are among eight luxury cars seized as graft busters probe a syndicate believed to have been smuggling tobacco, cigarettes and liquor into the country.

       It is learnt that the cars, with an estimated value of RM6mil, allegedly belonged to several people holding the position of company owners as well as those believed to be acting as middlemen who had paid money to officers of an enforcement agency.

       Sources said the luxury cars were confiscated during a recent special operation carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara.

       “Investigations carried out so far have found that the syndicate is also involved in money-laundering activities,” said a source.

       In the past week, 11 people, including five civil servants, had been arrested in connection with the case.

       Sources believe the smuggling activities carried out by the syndicate had caused an estimated RM400mil in tax revenue losses.

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       Initial investigations also showed that RM8mil had been paid as bribes to several people, including the civil servants, to “facilitate” the syndicate’s smuggling activities.

       It is believed that the syndicate was in operation between 2018 and last year.

       MACC anti-money laundering division director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed the seizure.